Washing-machine.



PATENTED MAR. 5, 190?.

L'. DQTHORNBURGH. WASHING MACHINE.

'APPLIUATION FILED 0UT.19. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

flT/zai'zzba7y7g n Attorneys Witnesses mt muuus PITIRI m. wxsnmarau, n, c.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

- L. D.' THORNBURGH.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 001191905.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

entor r I I Attorneys Witrisses 1' 1H: NORRIS PETERS co., wAsHmwon n c UNITED STATES PATENT ornion WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:atented March 5, 1907.

Application filed October 19,1905. Serial No. 283,505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE D. THORN- BURGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morrison, in the county of Noble, Oklahoma Territory, have invented a new and useful l/Vashing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing-machines, and has for its object to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating character's, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 its a longitudinal sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan view, of the improved device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the vibrating springs. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, of the oscillating rubber member. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the detachable rubber member which is located in the bottom of the tub. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional details illustrating the construction of the bottom rubber member. Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating a modification in the construction of the oscillating rubber member. Fig. 9 is a side elevation. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the improved'device, together with adjustable supporting-bench and heating attachment. Fig. 1 1 is a plan view of the adjustable supporting-bench and heating apparatus. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail of the devices for locking the receptacle to the bench. Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of the mechanism for locking the wringer-support to the receptacle. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rinsing-tub support, illustrating a modification in the construction.

The improved device comprises in general a receptacle for the garments to be washed, a detachable cover to the receptacle, a rubber mechanism attached to said cover and operative through the same, a supporting-bench for the receptacle, having means for detachably locking the receptacle thereto, a combined wringer-frame and receptacle-holding device, a foldable support for arinsing-tub,

and a heating appliance supported upon the bench.

The receptacle 10 for the garments to be washed is preferably of galvanized steel, with fluted sides at 1 1 and with a segmental partial cover 12 secured across a portion of the top. Hinged at 13 14 to the inner edge of this partial cover 12 is a conical closure 15, having one flattened side at 16 to correspond to the inner edge of the partial top. The hinges 13 14 are of the detachable form, so that the closure may be removed when required.

In one form of the structure the tub is ex tended into a horizontal shelf 17 ,preferably opposite the hinges 13 14 and braced from the side of the tub at 18 and with the outer side elevated and strengthened by a wood member 19, the latter to receive the wringer when required.

Attached by riveting or other suitable means to the apex of the conical closure 15 is a spider-frame 20, having a central hub 21 forming an upper bearing for the rubberoperating shaft 22. Attached to the under side of the cover member 15 are brace members 23, having registering apertures at their crossing-points to form the lower bearing for the operating-shaft 22. Attached to the lower end of the shaft 22 is arubber member formed of a ribbed disk 24 of relatively small size and provided with radial sockets 25 for receiving rubbing arms or ribs 26, the arms supporting an upper disk 27, the latter being perforated at 28. An annular rod or ring 29 is connected through the outer ends of the arms 26 and spaced from the larger disk to support the garments while being washed, as hereinafter explained. The lower surface of the smaller disk 24 is provided with transverse spaced ribs, as shown, to increase the rubbing-surface. Connected between the larger disk 27 and the closure member 15 of the tub are springs 30, exerting their force to maintain the rubber member yieldably in a certain predetermined position both rotatively and vertically, as hereafter described. The springs 30 are provided with interior interengaging links 31 32, operating to limit the outward movement of the springs.

Disposed upon the upper end of the shaft 22 is a crank-arm 33 of relatively heavy material and secured in place by a set-screw 34, the upper end of the shaft terminating in a transverse aperture 35, in which one end of a rod 36 is inserted, the outer end of the rod having a handle 37. The inner end of the rod 36 is provided with an aperture through which the upper end 38 of the shaft 22 fits, as shown in Fig. 1. By this simple means a double handle or lever mechanism is produced and all secured by the one set-screw 34. The lever member 33 is relatively short and is designed for the use of adult persons, while the longer lighter lever member will be used by children or young persons and may be detached when not required. The lever member 33 is also provided with a hand loop 39 to facilitate handling the closure member and its attachments.

It will be noted that in this arrangement that the rubber member is connected entirely to the hinged closure member, and. when the latter is opened upon its hinges 13 14 the rubber member is carried upward with it and is thereby removed from the tub, and it will also be noted that when the closure member is detached from the tub the rubber remains attached to the closure member and is removed therewith. I

The shaft 22 is somewhat longer than the bearing between the hub 21 of the spider member 20 and the bearing formed by the brace members 23, so that the rubber member is movable vertically within the tub to a certain extent to adapt the device to the varying quantity of clothes in the tub.

Disposed in the bottom of the tub is a stationary rubber member formed of spaced slats or ribs 40, rounded upon the upper sides and connected by spaced cross-bars 41, the slats halved into the bars, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the slats spaced from the bottom of the tub to provide for the free circulation of the water. The slats 40 are also each provided with a plurality of spaced transverse notches or recesses 79 to increase the rubbing-surface. The outer ends of the slats 40 and of the bars 41 are provided with recesses in which a wire hoop 42 is secured by staples 43 to increase the stability of one structure and to prevent the garments from becoming entangled beneath the slats and bars.

In Fig. 8 a slightly-modified arrangement of the springs 30 is shown, consisting in attaching the upper ends of the same to the brace members 23 instead of directly to the closure member 15, as in Fig. 1 and 3, which arrangement may be sometimes employed, if required.

A water-discharging aperture 45 is disposed in one side of the tube 10 and supplied with a closing-plug 46, the latter being long enough to extend inwardly over the binding member 42, and thus hold the slatted lower rubber member in position at one side, while a stationary loop 47 at the opposite side holds the other side of the rubber member in place. The slatted lower rubber is thus detachably supported in place within the tub.

The receptacle 10 and its attachments is supported upon a bench formed of spaced side members 48 49, transverse end members 50 51, vertical legs 52, and diagonal braces 53. Attached to the inner faces of the side members 48 49 are cleats 54 55 to support a heating appliance, such as a gas or gasolene stove of the ordinary form, as represented at 56, with the feed-tube 57 extending upwardly therefrom.

The bottom of galvanized steel tub is connected to the side portion by rolling the outer edges of the bottom over the lower edges of the side portion and with the bottom spaced above the lower line of the rolled joint thus formed. This construction produces an outwardly and downwardly proj ecting annular rib 58 around the lower edge of the tub, as represented in Fig. 12, and this rib is utilized to assist in holding the tub upon the bench. To this end the side members 48 49 of the bench are provided with segmental recesses 59 to receive the rib 58 of the tub and hold the same from horizontal movement thereon. Attached to the members 48 49 and overhanging two of the recesses 59 are guard-blocks 60, the overhanging portions of the blocks bearing over the laterally-projecting portions of the rib 58 and preventing vertical movement of the tub at that side, while buttons 61 are pivoted to the members 48 49 adjacent to the other two recesses for bearing over the rib, and thus holding the tub from vertical movement at that side. i

The vertical members 52 at one end of the bench are extended above the members 48 49, and pivoted at 62 63 to these extended portions are standards 64 65, connected at their upper ends by a rail 66, recessed into the standards and at an angle to the longitudinal plane of the same. The rail 66 is designed for bearing over the closure 15, as in Figs. 9 and 10 and 11, when swinging to its inward position and hold the same firmly in place when closed, the rail having a springcatch 67 for holding the tub when the cover is open. l/Vhen the washing action is completed, the member 66 is moved outwardly to release the cover and the latter turned back, carrying the upper rubber mechanism with it. The member 66 is then moved inwardly again over the upper edge of the tub, and the spring-catch 67 engaged with the interior face of the same, as shown in Fig. 13, to lock the member 66 firmly to the tub and also hold the tub from upward movement. The wringer is then attached to the member 66 and the garments detached from the holding-ring 29 and passed through the wringer. Any form of wringer may be attached to the member 66, and as thevconstruction of these devices is so well understood it is not illustrated.

Slidably disposed between the side members 48 49 is a rinse-tub support consisting of spaced sides 68 69, vertical members 70 71, and transverse connecting members 72 73, the members 68, 69, 70, 71, and 73 preferably formed from a single metal rod of suitable size and the connecting member 72 in the form of a band with the ends bent around the members 68 69. The frame thus constructed and extended, as in Fig. 9, forms an efficient support for a rinsing-tub at 74 or for a clothes-basket or other receptacle and when not required can be withdrawn into the bench, as in Figs. 10, 11.

In Fig. 14 a slightly-modified form of the rinsing tub-supporting device is shown with the vertical portions 70 and 71 replaced by members 75 7 6, of Wood, with the ends of the side members 68 69 secured in the wood member and the latter in turn connected by rounds or braces 77 78.

In preparing the device for operation the tub 10 is disposed upon the frame members 48 49, with the flange 58 within the recesses 59 and beneath the cleats 60 and the buttons 61 closed over the flange to firmly secure the tub to the frame. The closure 15 is then turned back upon its hinges, carrying the vibrating rubber member with it and leaving the tub unobstructed except by the slatted bottom member. The garments to be Washed are passed through the interstices between the rod 29 and the plate 27 and suspended thereby in the best possible position for the washing action. The wash-water, together with the requisite soap, having been supplied to the receptacle and the burners 56 lighted, the closure 15 is shut down, carrying the rubber member with it, and the closure fastened to the tub by the member 66, which is moved over above the closure 15 to firmly bind the tub and its closin'e upon the sup porting-frame and coacting with the cleats 60 and buttons 61 to prevent upward movement relative thereto. The lever members 33 86 are then moved back and forth and a downward pressure at the same time applied, which. stretches the springs 30 and causes both a vertical and rotary vibrating motion, the springs greatly aiding and facilitating the action. The springs produce an automatic rising and falling action, causing the garments to be very rapidly agitated in the water and very thoroughly cleansed with the minimum of labor and force required to operate the parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a washing-machine, a receptacle for the garments having a swinging closure, a shaft mounted for oscillating and vertical movement through said closure, a rubber member formed of a disk having a plurality of radial ribs and connected to said shaft and operative within said receptacle, and springs spaced apart and connected at one end to said closure and converging and connected at the other ends to said rubber member and permitting a yielding oscillatory and vertical movement to the rubber member.

2. In a Washing-machine, a receptacle for the garments to be washed having a segmental top portion extending partly over the 7 same, a semiconical closure member extendmg over the remainder of the receptacle and hinged to said segmental portion, a splderframe secured to the apex of said conical portion and provided with a central shaft-bearing, brace members depending from said closure and converging to a central shaft-bearing, a shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement through said bearings, a rubber member connected to the lower end of said shaft, and a plurality of springs spaced apart and connected at one end to said closure and converging, and connected at the other ends to the rubber member.

3. In a washing-machine, a receptacle for the garments, a shaft mounted for vertical and oscillatory movement in said receptacle, a rubber member formed of a disk having a plurality of radial ribs and connected to said shaft within the receptacle, springs connected between said disk and receptacle and permitting a yielding vibratory and vertical movement to said rubber member, and interlocking links within said springs and limiting the longitudinal movement of said springs.

4. In a washing-machine, a receptacle for the garments, a shaft mounted for vertical and oscillatory movement in said receptacle, a rubber member upon the lower end of said shaft, a lever-arm having a terminal hub formed with right-angled. intercepting apertures with the upper end of said shaft disposed in one of said apertures, a rod having a handle at one end and with the other end perforated and bearing over said shaft within the other of said apertures, and a set-screw operating through said hub and bearing upon said shaft therein.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE n. TI-IORNBURGH.

Witnesses:

D. J. LINDEN, J. L. LIGGETT.

IIO 

